HARARE - When arriving at Harare on the fifth day of the Test match yesterday, there was a heavy sense of anticipation in the air.

Bangladesh were well aware of the fact that they were in full control of the Test match, and simply had to finish the job by doing the basics right, which is exactly what they did.

Zimbabwe on the other hand would have been praying for a minor miracle from the likes of Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura to possibly deny Bangladesh their first Test win on Zimbabwean soil.

But as the scoreboard and history books will tell us, it was not meant to be. And in truth, Bangladesh richly deserved this win, as they dominated the match from the very first day.

They showed great spirit and determination and a real want to win whereas Zimbabwe still seemed to be recovering from the after effects of the first Test win.

Even though Hamilton Masakadza’s century was of very little use to the losing team, it deserves special mention.

He showed great composure for a batsman who has been desperately short of runs at Test level.

His wonderful combination of attack and defence, and his general shot selection gave us all a reminder as to what he is capable of.

The fact that he faced 252 balls suggests that he has good temperament and the 11 fours and four towering sixes he hit confirmed his ability to up the run rate if necessary.

The highlights from the two Tests were undoubtedly Brendan Taylor’s successive centuries in the first Test.

Then there was the outstanding team work shown by Kyle Jarvis, Keegan Meth Shingi Masakadza and Graeme Cremer in the first Test, and the welcome return to form by Elton Chigumbura with a career best 86, as well as some good and at times fiery bowling by the all-ronder in the first innings of the second Test.

On more than one occasion, I have referred to Shingi Masakadza as being a lion-hearted character, and it is nice to know that this assessment was confirmed, as throughout the Test series, he showed skill and stamina.

Meth is another man who impressed with long spells of accurate swing bowling before his second Test match was cut short by a knee injury.

Although it has to be said that Meth’s body language in the second innings of the second Test was appalling!

Everybody sympathises with him, but, he has to understand that a hanging head and drooping shoulders impresses nobody and gives the impression that he would be anywhere else than representing his country in a Test match. - Dean du Plessis